Articles tagged with Minister
Showing 15 of 965 articles
Boosting Employment in Waikato: Minister Upston's Commitment to Jobseeker Reduction Target
03 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 958 viewsSocial Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston highlights the importance of regional employment events in getting Kiwis into jobs and boosting the economy. The Government's focus on the Going for Growth strategy emphasizes developing talent and reducing the number of people on the Jobseeker Benefit by 50,000 by 2030 through partnerships with employers and training organizations. Initiatives such as early intervention services, work seminars, and the Relocate for Work Support payment aim to help beneficiaries find sustainable employment, providing them with purpose, independence, and a pathway out of welfare dependence.
Tags: Louise Upston Minister Employment MSD Jobseeker Benefit Kiwis Economy Growth Waikato CommunityNew Zealand Food Exporters to Benefit from Streamlined Regulations, Boosting Market Access
02 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1185 viewsFood Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard announces a cut to red tape for food exporters in New Zealand, eliminating the need for special exemptions if products meet importing countries' requirements starting from 25 September 2025. This change simplifies compliance by aligning with destination countries' rules, reducing paperwork, costs, and delays previously associated with individual product exemptions. Hoggard emphasizes the benefits of increased efficiency, lower compliance costs, and improved trade opportunities, with a phased approach to extend the streamlined process to all food exports in the future.
Tags: food safety minister andrew hoggard exporters new zealand rules compliance dairy sector trade innovationNew Ferries Secured for Next 30 Years by Ferry Holdings: Design and Delivery Details
02 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1192 viewsFerry Holdings has secured a preferred shipbuilder for two new ferries to serve passengers, road, and rail for the next 30 years, with a fixed price and completion in 2029. Rail Minister Winston Peters praised the swift procurement process and highlighted the importance of the letter of intent signed for technical negotiations. The new ferries will have specific dimensions, capacities, power, and safety features to ensure efficient and environmentally friendly transportation across the Cook Strait for the next three decades.
Tags: Ferry Holdings Winston Peters Rail Minister ship builder shipyards procurement process ship specification shipyard Cook Strait TasmaniaEmpowering Choice & Control: New Flexible Funding System for Disabled Community
02 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1083 viewsImprovements to the disability support system will provide disabled individuals, families, and carers with more choice and control over flexible funding starting early next year. The changes aim to address feedback for greater autonomy in decision-making and to create a more transparent and sustainable system. These adjustments, informed by extensive community consultations, will standardize assessment processes, develop personalized support plans through NASCs, and offer more clarity and certainty to users of flexible funding.
Tags: Disabled people families carers flexible funding disability support system Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston Independent Review NASCs Enabling Good LivesProgress Update: Second Ashburton Bridge Construction Nears as Key Agreement Signed
02 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1559 viewsThe second Ashburton Bridge is closer to realization following a key agreement signed by Minister James Meager, marking progress towards the National Party's campaign promise. The New Zealand Transport Agency has contracted Fletchers Construction to advance detailed bridge design for construction starting next year, aiming to alleviate congestion on State Highway 1 and enhance network resilience in emergency events. Geotechnical investigations and property purchases are underway, with a Design and Construction contract expected to be finalized by year-end, emphasizing local opportunities and addressing potential challenges.
Tags: Ashburton Bridge Minister South Island Associate Transport Minister James Meager New Zealand Transport Agency Fletchers Construction National Party State Highway 1 OtagoGovernment Launches First Crisis Recovery Café in Whanganui to Support Mental Health
02 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1186 viewsThe Mental Health Minister opened Whanganui’s new Crisis Recovery Café at Aunty’s Café, the first of six cafés being rolled out by the Government nationwide. These cafés, led by Balance Aotearoa and iwi providers, offer peer-led, non-clinical support for individuals facing mental health or addiction challenges in a community setting. The Government aims to reduce pressure on traditional crisis systems by providing faster access to support, increasing frontline workers, and enhancing crisis response through initiatives like crisis cafés and peer support specialist roles in emergency departments.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister Crisis Recovery Café Balance Aotearoa Te Oranganui Hāpai Mauri Tangata peer support specialist mental health plan Health NZ frontline workersImproving Family and Sexual Violence Sector Training and Collaboration Leads to Enhanced Victim-Centred Services
02 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1004 viewsA survey of workers in the family violence and sexual violence sector reveals improvements in training and collaboration, enhancing victim-centred services. Minister Karen Chhour emphasizes the importance of strong connections between community and government agencies, as well as consistent training for workers providing specialized support. The survey highlights the widespread training received by frontline workers and the ongoing efforts to ensure national consistency and quality, with a focus on expanding training to public sector staff and promoting collaborative relationships for effective multi-agency responses.
Tags: Karen Chhour Minister Prevention Family violence Sexual violence Training Collaboration Survey Workers ServicesProposed Special Licensing Reforms for Events Sector by Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee
02 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1039 viewsAssociate Justice Minister Nicole McKee presented proposed changes to special licensing rules for the events sector at the New Zealand Events Association’s annual conference. The reforms aim to simplify regulations and provide greater certainty and consistency for event organizers, while prioritizing the reduction of alcohol-related harm. Key reforms include the introduction of a national risk-based framework for special license applications, a coordinated approach for multi-district events, raising the threshold for large-scale events, and granting flexibility for televised national events. These changes align with the government's creative sector strategy to streamline regulation and support the thriving of the events industry while maintaining strong safeguards for harm reduction.
Tags: Nicole McKee Minister special licensing events sector New Zealand Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 reforms regulations Amplify alcohol regulatory systemTransforming New Zealand's Universities: Priorities for Success and Global Impact
01 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1051 viewsThe speech highlights the importance of universities in New Zealand, emphasizing the need for alignment between student skills and industry needs, faster research impact, and adaptability to new opportunities like advanced technologies. The government is introducing a new Tertiary Education Strategy with priorities including student achievement, economic impact, and international connections. Reforms also involve establishing a University Strategy Group, transitioning to a Tertiary Research Excellence Fund, strengthening quality assurance, and enhancing governance to ensure universities remain independent yet accountable for delivering impactful research and education.
Tags: University of Canterbury Minister Simmonds Tertiary Education Strategy Tertiary Research Excellence Fund New Zealand Global Impact Student Success Science Reforms Quality Assurance SystemNew Zealand Nurses Strike: Impact on Patient Care & Wait Times
01 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1239 viewsThe New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) union has decided to strike, leading to delays in healthcare services for thousands of New Zealanders, including cancellations of surgeries and treatments, delays in specialist assessments, and critical follow-up appointments. The strike is seen as a political move by the union, impacting patients already in pain and waiting for treatment, with concerns raised about transparency in the decision-making process. Despite the government's investments in nursing workforce salaries and benefits, efforts are being made to reduce wait times and prioritize patient care, urging the NZNO union to return to negotiations and prioritize patients over politics.
Tags: New Zealanders Care Nurses Organisation Simeon Brown Strike Health Minister Patients Nurses NZNO union WaitlistsNew Zealand Opens Doors to Overseas Investors for Home Ownership under Active Investor Plus Visa
01 Sep 2025 | 1 year ago | 1155 viewsOverseas-based investors with a New Zealand investor residence visa can now buy a house in New Zealand to stimulate economic growth, despite the ban on foreigners purchasing residential housing. The Active Investor Plus residency visa, requiring a minimum investment of $5 million, aims to attract high net worth individuals to deepen their connection to New Zealand and contribute to the economy by allowing them to own a home. This policy change balances the desire to limit foreign ownership while attracting significant investors to invest in the country, potentially bringing in a total minimum investment of $1.8 billion.
Tags: Christopher Luxon Prime Minister New Zealand Investor residence visa Active Investor Plus Foreign buyer ban Overseas Investment Act New Zealand economy High net worth investorsFish & Game Family Fishing Licences Updated for Equal Rights and Inclusion
31 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1031 viewsFish & Game New Zealand's family fishing licences are being updated to grant equal fishing rights to both adults starting from the 2025/26 angling season, allowing independent fishing and voting rights in Fish & Game elections. The change aims to address the historical anomaly where the second adult on the licence, often a woman, could not fish independently or participate in elections. Minister Meager hopes the update will enhance accessibility for women and young families, encouraging more people to enjoy angling and ensuring financial relief with no price increases to Fish & Game angling licences confirmed for the upcoming season.
Tags: Fish & Game New Zealand family fishing licences Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager University of Otago Women on the Fly NZ Dame Lynda Topp Richie Cosgrove freshwater fishing.Government Surpasses Violent Crime Reduction Target with Increased Police Presence
30 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1129 viewsThe Government is exceeding its violent crime reduction target as Police deploy more officers on the beat, with Henderson in West Auckland being the next focus area. Since receiving funding in Budget 2024, 63 beat officers have been deployed across major cities and districts, set to increase to 70 with the launch of Henderson's team. The increased police presence through beat teams and Retail Crime Units is contributing significantly to deterring crime and ensuring community safety, with a decrease in serious violent crime victims reported in the latest data.
Tags: Government Police Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith Police Minister Mark Mitchell Crime reduction Beat teams Law and order Violent crime Victims MāoriFinance Minister Thanks Departing Reserve Bank Chair for Service
29 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 976 viewsFinance Minister Nicola Willis thanked departing Reserve Bank Chair Neil Quigley for his long service, acknowledging his contributions over 15 years as a board member and nine as Chair. Quigley resigned immediately, citing the completion of key tasks and the timing being right for a transition to a new Chair. Deputy Chair Rodger Finlay will temporarily assume the Chair's duties until a permanent appointment is made, and the vacancy on the board left by Quigley will be filled in the future.
Tags: Finance Minister Nicola Willis Reserve Bank Chair Neil Quigley board member Chair resignation funding agreement capital settings new GovernorGovernment Grants $2 Million for Tasman District Flood Recovery
29 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1139 viewsThe Government has allocated up to $2 million to Tasman District Council for flood recovery efforts, including waste cleanup and infrastructure repairs. Environment Minister Penny Simmonds highlights the challenges faced by the region, particularly in areas like Riwaka and along the Motueka River. The emergency waste funding aims to support councils in managing waste after emergencies and help communities like Tasman towards recovery.
Tags: Government Tasman District Council recovery flooding Environment Minister Penny Simmonds waste cleanup infrastructure repairs silt removal emergency waste funding